From idol to idle

Australian Idol Guy Sebastian's debut album is out on Monday but beware - those overseas idols have been hitting the low notes.

American second place finalist Justin Guarini has reportedly been dumped by BMG and England's Gareth Gates has released what is already being called a flop of an album.

The Guarini dumping was swift and brutal. According to Billboard the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson was still in Idol mode and advertised as one of the acts on the Idol Christmas special for the USA but he declnied to participate in the show.

His album sold less than 140,000 units in the USA. (Gold there is 500,000).

Idol winner Clarkson has to date sold less than two times platinum and US Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is already out of the Top 10.

The Americans released an Idol Christmas album this week. The record likewise had a poor debut falling outside the Top 30 in week one.

In the UK last year's star is this year's has-been. Gareth Gates fumbled onto the British chart and out again even faster. One month after release, his album has disappeared from the English chart.